Really, read the reviews of da Vittorio, it seems like people really like it or hate it. I can hardly recommend as I did not risk a visit! Maybe Ziggy went there. I was surprised you were heading for Pto Empdocle - it seemed pretty industrial as we drove through though I recall Ziggy found a really good place there (I think closed). Believe this was the real town Camilliero wrote about for Montalbano, though the tv drama got reset in more scenic Ragusa-Scicli etc. and nearby beach town.
Re Ragusa, we were only there a day, and thought it was lovely, scenic etc. Ate our sole meal at Rusticana in Ragusa Ibli - the slowfood restaurant that is also famous for being one of Montalbano’s hangouts in the tv drama. We had a pretty good meal and its a pretty terrace restaurant with its beautiful green wall. Sunday lunch and all the locals were ordering artichokes!
One specialty of Ragusa is scaccia, a savory pastry snack with very thin layers of pastry with tomato sauce and other things layered between. It is surprisingly delicate. Panificio Giummarra in Ragusa Ibla is famous for it. I note that there are several slowfoods currently in Ragusa, including Cucina e Vino - with the snail designation - that might be worth checking out if you get hungry after your chef meals.
If you are driving out to Chiaramonte Gulfi there is a longterm slowfood fave there, U Dammusu, that you might want to check out. (I havent been) I just suggest you might want to look at the guide for alternatives in this area, there are quite a number, including ones you might want to enjoy en route to your next destination.
If you decide to visit Caltagirone, Restaurant Coria is lovely. We had an all-pink meal (in honor of the Giro di Italia race) there in 2017 which was memorable.
We were staying in Modica for that visit - at Modicarte (dont know if he is still hosting)
Loved that town which is down in a crazy canyon similar to Ragusa. but the restaurant we really enjoyed there, with great home cooking run by an older couple has been dropped from the slowfood guide and has uneven reviews now, which is sad. I had really wanted to go to ACCURSIO there, and would still recommend a visit. There are also artisanal chocolate makers (the old spanish tradition, sort of like mexican chocolate) in Modica and as I recall a lovely pastry shop right in the center.
The town of Scicli is another nearby, down toward the coast, very worth a visit, with lovely pastel decor in the churches.
We had a quick visit to sunbaked little old fishing village Marzememi on my recent Sicily visit - we stopped in at a cafe, Calamaro Portodimare, for afternoon coffee and snacks. Here I experienced the custom of serving nut based ices with warm brioches. the pistachio and almond were excellent, recommend wherever in the area you can find this treat.
For Noto, yes Cafe Sicilia is the fave - Ive not been there, but maybe a place to try the brioche - ice combo. There is a starred restaurant Il Crocofisso, in Noto that was on my go to list for my cancelled 2020 trip.
I have no experience and little info about Taormina unfortunately. There was one place recommended in Chowhound days, I think it was Osteria Nero d’Avola which might be worth a try.
Looking forward to hearing about how your trip goes!
